Sporting News, Lindy's rank Hobart in preseason top 20

On the heels of the most successful season in school history, the Hobart College football team will begin the 2013 campaign ranked in the top 20 in the nation, according to a pair of highly respected preseason publications. The Sporting News put the Statesmen at No. 12 while Lindy's Sports Annuals ranked Hobart No. 13.

Three Statesmen garnered preseason All-America recognition from the two magazines as well as the website Beyond Sports Network (BSN). Junior defensive end Tyre Coleman was listed on the first team by all three sources. Senior linebacker Devin Worthington earned a first team nod from BSN and second team recognition from Lindy's. And, junior offensive tackle Ali Marpet garnered first team accolades from Lindy's.

Hobart was ranked seventh in the nation in the final regular season polls by the American Football Coaches Association and D3football.com. The Statesmen completed their first undefeated regular season since 1957 and, overall, produced a school record 12 wins against just a single loss, advancing to the NCAA quarterfinals for the first time in program history. Hobart won its eighth Liberty League Championship with an unblemished 7-0 record.

Coleman was third in the nation in tackles for loss and fourth in sacks a year ago, producing Hobart season records with 30.5 TFL and 17.5 sacks. He is the team's top returning tackler after registering 67 stops, including 46 solo, in 2012. Coleman set the Hobart game records with five tackles for loss against Union and 4.5 sacks at Utica. His monster season was recognized with first team All-America honors from D3football.com as well as Liberty League and D3football.com East Region defensive player of the year honors.

After only two seasons, Coleman has 30.5 sacks and 49.5 TFL. He is second in career sacks, just 2.5 behind Dave Russell's 16-year-old Hobart record. Coleman is third in career TFL, trailing Worthington by 2.5 and record holder Rob Gould '00 by 9.5.

In 2012, Worthington was second on the team and third in the conference in tackles for loss (21.5) and second on the team and fourth in the league in sacks (10.0). He broke the Hobart game record with 4.5 TFL against Geneva (Pa.) College, producing a season-high 2.0 sacks against the Golden Tornadoes. At St. Lawrence, Worthington registered a season-high eight tackles, including a pair of sacks. He notched a pair of interceptions against current San Diego Chargers' quarterback Mike Hermann in road win over Rensselaer. Worthington's performances earned his D3football.com All-America second team honors as well as first team nods in the ECAC North and Liberty League.

Marpet is the Statesmen's top returning lineman. Hobart's line allowed the fewest sacks (8) in the Liberty League and ranked 10th in the nation. The Statesmen rushed for 237.2 yards per game and passed for 177.2 yards per game, leading the conference in total offense with 414.3 yards per game. Marpet was a first team All-Liberty League pick and a D3football.com second team All-East selection.

Hobart opens the 2013 season at Dickinson on Saturday, Sept. 7. The Statesmen will play their home opener under the lights at Boswell Field on Saturday, Sept. 21, hosting Utica at 7 p.m. When student-athletes return to campus on Aug. 14, Hobart will welcome back 35 lettermen, including 13 starters (6 off./7 def.).